A-Bomb: A City Tells Its Story

by Yoshiteru Kosakai (Editor)

The book presents a gripping historical account of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 - from the point of view of the victims. Contains many eyewitness accounts, photographs, and illustrations.

Genres: World War II

57 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Daisy Pooler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, although brief, certainly describes well the tremendous horror that the atomic bomb caused after being dropped on Hiroshima during WWII. I got it from the Peace Memorial Museum gift shop, and it included quite some information that was not in the museum - particularly about prefectures surrounding Hiroshima and how everybody in these areas chipped in to help the victims - it also has a nice mix of facts and victim accounts. I managed to finish it during my ride on the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Tokyo. Certainly not an easy read, but an impactful one.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a shortened and translated version of the original text (Hiroshima Genbaku Sensai Shi, "Record of the Hiroshima A-Bomb War Disaster"), which is 5 volumes, culminating in 4,000 pages and is kept at Hiroshima City Hall. This 57 page version can be bought at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum gift shop for ¥400, which is about $3.60 (as of August 2018). This was a quick but powerful read. It takes you through before the bombing and the minutes, days and months after the bombing, truly making you feel as if you are talking to the victims as time is passing. It was very powerful to read about their experiences and see pictures of the terrible destruction of nuclear weapons. It opened my eyes to many things and I will definitely read it again. Be forewarned, there were many parts that were gut-wrenching and disturbing.

[Marianella Cordero]

Traje este libro de Hiroshima.
Maldita sea la bomba, la guerra, la revancha del odio y la estupidez humana.
Habiendo conocido la ciudad, me duele más leer este recuento tremendo de lo que pasó. Cada vez los admiro más, cómo se levantaron de lo peor, del infierno. “Un mar de llamas”.
Maldita bomba. Maldita guerra. Todas las guerras.

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the brevity of this volume it doesn't fail a bit to describe and picture the unimaginable horror caused by the a-bomb in Hiroshima.
With a well balanced mix of historical facts and reports of eye witnesses the book sets an example of the cruelty of the a-bomb.

[Geethananthini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me to feel the real situation in Hiroshima during the atomic bomb attack. Made me teared reading some real struggles and how cruel the attack can be. I can’t even imagine this again happening on this beautiful earth. May all the souls are rested well in heaven now.

[John Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical document about this terrible event.

[Devin Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't read this for more than 20 or so minutes at a time. Physically, I couldn't. I'd start to feel sick, turn the page, and there would be more. Luckily it is a short work. Unfortunately the ramifications of the act detailed in this book are anything but short.